Systemic amyloidosis associated with multiple myeloma presenting as periorbital purpura

Ocular amyloid: adnexal and systemic involvement

Purpose: To investigate the natural history of ocular adnexal and orbital amyloidosis.Methods: In a retrospective, non-comparative case series, the clinical records of patients with biopsy-proven ocular, adnexal, and orbital amyloidosis managed at our institution between 1980 and 2016 were evaluated.Results: Forty-one patients (29 female; 71%) were identified. The mean interval from presentation to diagnosis was 24 months (median 12 months, range 1-84 months). Whilst most patients presented with a conjunctival mass (34/41; 83%) or ptosis (15/41; 37%), the diagnosis was not immediately evident in all - two patients had 3 ptosis operations prior to obtaining a tissue biopsy that revealed amyloid deposition. Three-quarters (31/41; 76%) of patients had localised primary ocular adnexal and orbital amyloidosis, 4 (10%) had associated systemic disease, and 6 (15%) were found to have underlying haematological malignancy on further investigation. During a mean follow-up of 8 years (median 7 years; range 6 months - 36 years), 2 (5%) patients lost vision, 21 (51%) had surgical intervention other than biopsy, and 2 (5%) had local radiotherapy for amyloid deposition secondary to lymphoproliferative disease.Conclusions: The varied presentations of ocular adnexal and orbital amyloidosis and the need for confirmatory biopsy often leads to a significant delay between first symptoms and diagnosis. While rarely sight-threatening, ocular adnexal and orbital amyloidosis carries significant morbidities and has a systemic association in a quarter of patients.

Multiple myeloma-associated skin light chain amyloidosis: A case of misdiagnosis

The present study reports the case of a 42-year-old male with multiple myeloma (MM)-associated skin light chain amyloidosis who presented with skin purpura as the initial symptom, which was misdiagnosis as Henoch-Schönlein purpura nephritis prior to admission to the Second Xiangya Hospital (Changsha, Hunan, China). The patient presented with purpura, papules petechiae and spontaneous ecchymosis, which was located scattered around the neck, chest and limbs, accompanied by a small amount of bleeding in the conjunctival and oral mucosa, and a swollen tongue. Upon laboratory examination, the serum immunological change showed increased serum immunoglobulin G and λ light chain levels, and a urine Bence Jones protein level of >1 g/24 h. This was accompanied with an abnormal result for immunofixation electrophoresis, and positive staining with Congo red showing apple-green birefringence in skin biopsy specimens. Thus, the patient was diagnosed with MM-associated skin amyloidosis with the initial symptom of skin purpura. Following treatment with chemotherapy consisting of prednisone and bortezomib, the skin lesions markedly improved. The present study indicates that the presentation of skin purpura in systemic amyloidosis associated with MM may be an important aid in the diagnosis and direct treatment of this disease in the clinic.

Clinical presentation, treatment, and prognosis of periocular and orbital amyloidosis in a university-based referral center

Objective

The purpose was to present the demographic data, clinical presentation, and treatment options, and to evaluate prognosis, for periocular and orbital amyloidosis in patients at the Songklanagarind Hospital, Thailand.

Method

This was a retrospective study that reviewed the clinical records of six patients who were diagnosed with periocular and orbital amyloidosis between January 1, 2002 and December 31, 2011.

Results

The series included six patients (five female and one male). The mean age was 39.7 years (range 15–79 years). There were five cases of unilateral lesion and one case of bilateral lesion. The most common symptom was a mass lesion (83.3%), followed by irritation (66.7%), bloody tears (16.7%), epiphora (16.7%), eye pain (16.7%), and ptosis (16.7%). Five cases had periocular involvement and one case had orbital involvement. Five cases were investigated to rule out systemic amyloidosis, and no systemic involvement was found in these cases. The median duration of symptoms was 6 months, but the mean was 31 months. The main treatment option was surgical excision. The mean follow-up time was 41 months. There was disease progression in 20% of cases after definitive treatment.

Conclusion

Periocular and orbital amyloidosis presented with a variety of symptoms, depending on the location of the disease. A mass lesion was the most common symptom. The intent of the treatment modalities was to spare function.

Chronic eyelid swelling as an initial manifestation of myeloma-associated amyloidosis

Orbital amyloidosis is uncommon and difficult to diagnose due to their variable clinical presentations. The authors report a case of a patient who presents with chronic eyelid swelling as an initial manifestation of myeloma-associated amyloidosis. This patient was also found to have retrobulbar infiltration with no visual impairment. The authors also describe the first documentation of the atypical necrotic appearance of amyloidosis in the involved eyelid tissues. Myeloma-associated amyloidosis can present as chronic, nonspecific periorbital swelling, hence a biopsy of the affected tissues is important in preventing a delay in the correct diagnosis.

Cutaneous amyloidosis: a concept review

Concepts and semantics are crucial for good communication between clinicians and pathologists. Amyloidosis was described more than 150 years ago. Therefore, the terminology related to it is abundant, varied, and sometimes complex. In this report, we intend to discuss several terms related to the disease, with special emphasis on cutaneous amyloidosis. We present a review, from Virchow to present, of the concepts related to amyloidosis: its nature, the classification of cutaneous forms of the disease, and the techniques used in its diagnosis.

Myeloma-associated orbital amyloidosis

Orbital amyloidosis is extremely rare and may be localized finding or secondary to a systematic process. The majority of the patients with orbital amyloidosis have primary localized disease. We report a 55 year old male with multiple myeloma and secondary amyloidosis who presented with incidental bilateral orbital masses on MRI. Biopsy revealed amyloid deposition. We review the previously published cases of the orbital amyloidosis secondary to systematic light chain (AL) amyloidosis, including one patient with multiple myeloma. The clinical signs and symptoms, histopathologic findings, and radiographic features of orbital amyloidosis are discussed.

Characteristics of orbital multiple myeloma: a case report and literature review

Multiple myeloma is a plasma cell malignancy that destroys skeletal, renal, and neurological function. Orbital involvement is rare, but has been considered an initial presentation for the malignancy. Furthermore, an association between the subtype of multiple myeloma and the likelihood of orbital infiltration has been suggested. We present a case of an orbital mass that was a recurrence of multiple myeloma. A literature search was performed to evaluate the presentation characteristics of orbital multiple myeloma, plasmacytoma and primary (or solitary) extramedullary plasmacytoma. Past reports were analyzed for age, sex, symptoms at presentation, time from symptom onset to presentation, prior diagnosis before presentation for orbital symptoms, radiological characteristics, immunoglobulin subtype, and survival times. Less than half of published cases had orbital multiple myeloma as the primary presentation. Proptosis is the major presenting sign of orbital multiple myeloma, and radiological evaluation shows that the majority of masses originate in the superotemporal quadrant. The dominant immunoglobulin subtype was IgG.